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This isn't something I just discovered, it's something that's always stuck out in my mind. It is a comment made by Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant during De la Hoya/Pacquiao fight (December 2008).
Keep in mind the boxing picture in or around the welterweight division was the following:
Mayweather retired during Summer 2008
Cotto suffered his first defeat by bloody stoppage in the 11th at the hands of Mexican brawler Antonio Margarito
Margarito became the de facto ruler of the division having beaten the best fighter of the division.
Pacquiao was a career featherweight with only a single recent fight at lightweight who was jumping up TWO weight classes to take on Oscar de la Hoya. Many insiders picked De la Hoya to win and considered the fight a farce, 17/20 Ring Magazine experts picked Oscar to win.
Remember, we all believed (if not all, the GRAND majority) that Pacquiao would lose. And even then, we believed that (should he win) he would've gone back to lightweight and continue to rule the 135 pound division. It's amazing how things turn out in retrospect. With all this in mind...
LISTEN CLOSELY WHAT JIM LAMPLEY AND LARRY MERCHANT SAY ABOUT PACQUIAO DURING THE FIGHT (SKIP TO 1:21 OF THE VIDEO) REMEMBER, THIS WAS BACK IN DECEMBER 2008
Thoughts and comments?
Remarkable, isn't it? If you send your current you to that time and tell him about all the things Pacquiao's done, he wouldn't believe you. I wouldn't believe me!
Keep in mind the boxing picture in or around the welterweight division was the following:
Mayweather retired during Summer 2008
Cotto suffered his first defeat by bloody stoppage in the 11th at the hands of Mexican brawler Antonio Margarito
Margarito became the de facto ruler of the division having beaten the best fighter of the division.
Pacquiao was a career featherweight with only a single recent fight at lightweight who was jumping up TWO weight classes to take on Oscar de la Hoya. Many insiders picked De la Hoya to win and considered the fight a farce, 17/20 Ring Magazine experts picked Oscar to win.
Remember, we all believed (if not all, the GRAND majority) that Pacquiao would lose. And even then, we believed that (should he win) he would've gone back to lightweight and continue to rule the 135 pound division. It's amazing how things turn out in retrospect. With all this in mind...
LISTEN CLOSELY WHAT JIM LAMPLEY AND LARRY MERCHANT SAY ABOUT PACQUIAO DURING THE FIGHT (SKIP TO 1:21 OF THE VIDEO) REMEMBER, THIS WAS BACK IN DECEMBER 2008
Thoughts and comments?
Remarkable, isn't it? If you send your current you to that time and tell him about all the things Pacquiao's done, he wouldn't believe you. I wouldn't believe me!
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